In the "Least Likely Sources" department, CNN Money has provided a maddeningly brief and frustratingly small peek at some new Transformers Animated toys. In a new video on CNNMoney.com, a correspondent visits the "Hasbro Showroom" to check out their new toys for 2008. While the Hasbro official demonstrates the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Ratchet and Bumblebee blasters, they completely ignore the Animated toys on the table, which are the ones that really look new--a Bulkhead with a strange purple helmet,a potentially Earth-mode Megatron, and a giant earth-mode Optimus Prime with massive axe. Jumps in their placement on the table during the edited clips indicate Hasbro DID show them off, but sadly, the bloodthirsty media only wants to sensationalize the violent toys. Or something.

Check out the video on CNNMoney.com. Thanks to TFW2005 for somehow finding this one. Discuss in Thylacine2000's thread. 

Just a week after his triumphant return to the animated Transformers world, Grimlock may be earning an honor fit for a king: a place in the Masterpiece series! TFW2005 has an image originally posted on the Chinese message board ACToys.net showing a silhouette of G1 Grimlock's box art, with "Masterpiece Series" overlaid in Japanese and  "THE NEXT IS..." in English below. What looks like a block of explanatory text next to the image is apparently just a paragraph about Gundam.

Obviously, this is still lacking too much detail to be considered a confirmation, but a Masterpiece Grimlock is something that's been rumored and desired by many for years, so we'll definitely stay on top of this as it develops. Thanks to Darth Prime and TFW2005 for the news, and Buster Darkwings for the quick translation. Continue discussion of the mysterious image in Darth Prime's thread.

Members of the Transformers Collectors' Club are in for a treat!  Recently uploaded to the officla fan club is a character profile for the infamous Cryotek. 

Members can head over to Transformers Collectors' Club website and view the profile.

Our friends at TFCog.com have finished the first part of their Transformers War Within Animated series project.  Taking scenes from the comic, coupled with animation, voice-overs, sound effects, and music - they bring new life to the War Within tale. 

You can download Episode 1 of TFCog's the War Within Animated at their site, and discuss the news in Black Bumblebee's thread.

User s250 brings us, by way of actoys,net, some new in package pictures of the Optimus Prime and Megatron two pack from the upcoming Transformers: Animated line. The set features Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader, in his earth form and Megatron, Decepticon Tyrant, in his original Cybertron mode.

Printed on the back, the story is: 

 
Until now, OPTIMUS PRIME never thought he would come  face to face with MEGATRON. The legendary villian was thought to be long ago deactivated, but on CYBERTRON his power and his evil are still feared. He knows that to face MEGATRON is to face his own mortality. MEGATRON, on the other hand, does not know who this young AUTOBOT is, and does not care. All he knows is that The Allspark is under this fool's protection. If he will not give it up, MEGATRON will tear him apart to get it.

 You can view all the pictures by clicking here, and discuss them in s250's thread on the forums.

TakaraTomy has updated its Transformers site with information about several upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen figures due out this and next month.

In the newly added Screen Battles section there is:

• Screen Battles 01 - First Encounter - January Release
• Screen Battles 02 - Final Stand - January Release
• Screen Battles 03 - Desert Attack - February Release
• Screen Battles 04 - Capture of Bumblebee - February Release
  

And in the other new section for Allspark Power:

• MA-19 Landmine - January Release
• MD-22 Incinerator - January Release
• And place holder shadow images for the February releases Black Arcee and Stockade
  

For fans with Time Warner Digital Cable, they may be lucky enough to catch the as-of-yet un-aired fifth episode of Transformers: Animated On Demand! As you may know, Episode 6 "Blast From The Past" aired last week instead of Episode 5 "Total Meltdown." So here's an opportunity to go back and catch the missing episode!

Click here to see the original report at TFW2005, or click here to discuss this turn of events in Tekcorps' thread on the Allspark! 

Comic Book Resources recently had a chat with IDW Publishing's Editor-in-Chief, Chris Ryall. Perhaps the most interesting part of the interview is an image from the upcoming Spotlight Arcee comic book. She's definitely not the Arcee that you grew up with! Razor-tipped arm guards, Energon cutlass...and fangs?! Yes, definitely not the same Arcee!

You can see the interview and the Arcee image here!  

Simon Furman has updated his blog with a teaser for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen UK Magazine #9. The story for the comic will be an alternate take on the end of the movie. Twilight's Last Gleaming will focus on an Earth where the Decepticons were victorious and in control of the Allspark! As they start to transform the Earth's technology to fit their designs, will the remaining Autobots and Humans be able to mount a counter-attack? Look for the issue to be out February 28th--story by Simon Furman, art by Simon Williams.

See the entire teaser here, it may be a little spoiler-y though!